Visiting Birmingham

If you're visiting Aston for an Open Day, training course or meeting, why not make a full day or weekend out of it and spend some time getting to know the fantastic city of Birmingham. Here are our suggestions:

Museums & galleries

At the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery you can see art and objects spanning seven centuries of European and World history and culture. Find out more about Birmingham’s history or see the Egyptian mummies. The museum is particularly famous for its collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings. Admission is free.

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is based in the premises of an old jewellery making firm. The museum tells the story of Birmingham’s renowned jewellery and metalworking heritage and you can see live demonstrations of traditional jewellery-making skills.

Historic buildings

Aston Hall is a Jacobean-style mansion close to Birmingham city centre. It boasts a series of period rooms which have furniture, paintings, textiles and metalwork from the collections of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Admission is free.

The Birmingham Back to Backs are a carefully restored, 19th-century courtyard of working people's houses. Inside you see what life was like for people who lives and worked there. Admission free to National Trust members

Something different

Head to Cadbury World to find out about the history of chocolate, see how it's made and try a few free samples!

Visit the National Sea Life Centre which has over 60 displays of freshwater and marine life. Its one-million-litre ocean tank houses giant green sea turtles, blacktip reef sharks and tropical reef fish, with a fully transparent underwater tunnel.

Shopping

Birmingham is a shoppers paradise, and it's all within walking distance of Aston. Head to the The Bullring for high street shops and Selfridges or The Mailbox for your designer boutiques. In November and December the German Christmas market is in town.

In the evening

Cinema

There are three multi-screen cinemas in the city centre showing all the current releases (See what's on at the Odeon, Cineworld and AMC in Birmingham). If you fancy something a bit different head to the state-of-the-art IMAX cinema just across the road from campus, or the the Electric, the UK's oldest working cinema, where you watch a film from the comfort of a sofa and enjoy waiter service!

See a show

With six theatres within walking distance of Aston, you'll have a lot of choice, from major touring west-end shows, to small independent theatre productions. See what's on in Birmingham's theatres.

Live music

There's something for everyone every night in Birmingham. Maybe a classical concert at the spectatular Town Hall, a big name band at the O2 Academy or a touring act at the NEC Arena.

Out for drinks

There are literally hundreds of places in Birmingham city centre for you to enjoy a drink, ranging from traditional pubs to canalside bars. If you're looking for ideas, you could head to the Arcadian, Brindley Place or the Mailbox - each home to many drinking establishments!

Special events and festivals

There's something going on every month in Birmingham. Take a look at our month-by-month guide to special events and festivals in Birmingham.

Where to eat

As always in Birmingham, you'll be spoilt for choice. Head out for a famous Birmingham Balti, try the Chinese Quarter, or splash at out one of our Michelin starred restaurants. Again, you can head to the Arcadian (in the centre of the Chinese Quarter), Brindley Place or the Mailbox - each has many restaurants, so you can book your table or see what you fancy when you get there.

If you want to plan where to eat in advance, you'll find listings, suggestions and reviews online: